Many people with missing teeth avoid going to the dentist because they don’t want to be faced with the proposition of getting dentures. Through modern dental technology, though, Dr. Ken Cirka and his team at Philadelphia Dentistry have made dental restorations easier, more secure, and more natural looking than ever before, even when you’re deciding between dental implants vs. dentures.
The Security of Dental Implants
Dental implants are strong, secure tooth replacements. They fill in the hole left by a missing tooth or teeth. Surgically placed in the gum, the implant and jawbone bond together for a permanent solution that is topped by prosthetic teeth.
It’s easy to forget about dental implants. Once in place and fully healed, they feel completely natural and act and look that way too. The replacement of the tooth plus its root stimulates the jawbone and helps the face maintain its shape without any of the negative side effects that can come from tooth loss like a compromised face shape. Dental implants are available as All-On-4 implants, denture implants, full-mouth dental implants, and implants for a single tooth, multiple teeth, and all teeth.
Why Dentures Can Work for Your Smile
Understandably, most patients do not want dentures. They are reluctant to have any appliance in their mouth that could backfire on them at any time. Here’s the reality: Modern dentures work much better than your grandparents’ dentures. The technology and design of these repairs have improved tremendously, making them far easier to live with and simpler to eat and speak. There are two basic types of dentures:
- Full dentures: Made of prosthetic teeth and gum tissue, full dentures replace an entire arch of missing teeth. This restoration is reliable, attractive, and gives the patient a complete smile, but it does take time to get used to a restoration that is adhesive to stay in place and covers the roof of the mouth.
- Partial dentures: If you are missing several teeth in one area of your mouth, a partial denture replaces them effectively and easily. Typically anchored in place with clasps, the partial denture is removed for daily cleaning. Its presence prevents teeth on either side of the empty space in your smile from shifting and causing tissue damage and other problems. This solution also avoids the need for adhesive.
Denture Implants: The Best of Both Worlds
Patients who are particularly against the idea of dentures and all that comes with them – potential instability, unreliable adhesives, a covered palate – often find themselves interested in the idea of denture implants. Here is how this powerful combo of dental implants vs. dentures works together:
- A minimum of four dental implants are placed in the jawbone.
- Once the surgical area is healed, a customized denture is snapped onto the implants without covering the palate or requiring adhesive.
- The dentures and dental implants are permanent.
- Sense of touch and taste are not interrupted.
- Missing teeth are securely replaced, functional flawlessly, and look natural.
This restoration is appropriate for anyone missing several teeth in one area of the mouth or an entire arch of teeth. It’s a permanent solution that does not require adhesives or the covering of the palate and does not interrupt taste or sensation. Denture implants are ideal for patients who have struggled with dentures.
Deciding Between Dental Implants vs. Dentures in Philadelphia
At Philadelphia Dentistry, our goal is to match each patient to the tooth replacement treatment that is most effective for them so they will feel confident and comfortable. If you are living with many missing teeth, it’s time to learn more about dentures and dental implants to find out what type of restoration is right for you. Discuss your questions and concerns with Dr. Cirka and his team, explain your budget and lifestyle, and together you will come to a long-lasting solution for a healthy, beautiful smile.
